COMMISSIONER RANDY LEONARD'S BLOG

Oregon's Food Code is Under Review

  
Food Handlers Beware

 

The State of Oregon’s food industry has been operating under food codes that have not been updated since 1999.

 

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and food service stakeholders are working to update the statewide food code for Oregon.  Whether you are a food processor, grocery store or restaurant, everyone will be held to the same food safety standards and criteria, including food carts.

  

Given the proliferation of food carts, the parties are focused on regulations that promote health and safety for food cart owners and patrons alike.

  

For more information on Oregon’s food code review, click here.

Coming this week: BDS Budget work session, and a light Council Agenda

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City Council Work Session to discuss options to manage continuing decline in Development Services revenues

The construction industry in the United States has suffered a catastrophic decline, and Portland is no exception.  The City's permitting agency, the Bureau of Development Services, relies upon fees collected from building permits to fund its services, and the number of building permits have dropped to unprecedented levels.  A precipitous decline in revenues that began in the Summer of 2008 has continued into 2010, resulting in a reduction in staff at the Bureau of more than 200 people, leaving just 160 today.

The City Council will be discussing how to help the Bureau of Development Services meet its service delivery requirements in a dismal construction environment, as well as how the effects of such a decline can be minimized in the future.  Commissioner Leonard will be proposing the modernization of BDS' permit review system to computerize the intake and review system and move away from the archaic system that exists today, which includes multiple paper sets of every building plan, and shopping carts.  The new system would increase productivity dramatically by eliminating tedious and time consuming tasks, while enhancing service to customers.

You can watch the work session beginning at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, February 9 on Public Access channel 30, or online.

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Light Council Agenda highlighted by PGE Park Good Neighbor Agreement, and the Annual Safety Recognition Day

There is a reasonably light City Council Agenda this week, highlighted by the Council's consideration of a Good Neighbor Agreement between Peregrine, LLC--the operators of PGE Park--and the Goose Hollow and Downtown Neighborhood Associations.  The Good Neighbor Agreement is an update of an existing agreement that memorializes the responsibilities for PGE Park in mitigating the impacts of the stadium on the surrounding neighborhoods.

Other items of note on the Council Agenda include:

• A second reading on the Portland Water Bureau's proposed land exchange with the Federal Government in the Mt. Hood National Forest to consolidate Water Bureau owned land around the Bull Run system.  The Water Bureau is also proposing changes to City Code to add restrictions on activities on City owned land in the Bull Run watershed.
  
  
• On Wednesday afternoon at 2PM, the Council will host its annual Safety Recognition Day.  Each year, the Council honors the City's employees who go above and beyond to ensure the safety of the City's workforce, which saves lives, prevents injuries, and through the concerted effort of city bureaus over the last several years, has saved the City millions of dollars in costs associated with workplace injuries.  It is a great event and can be seen on Channel 30 or online.
  
  
• On Thursday, the City Council will hear a continuation of the proposed Bicycle Transportation Plan, as well as a continuation the Office of Planning and Sustainability's Regulatory Improvement proposals.